Historical Sports Photo: Hoonah Alaskans Tlingit baseball team

This oversized cabinet card photo shows the Tlingit baseball team called the "Alaskans" in their baseball uniforms. The photo is undated. Photography was done by E. Andrews of Douglas. Research by Richard Wood uncovered mention of how Tlingit culture-bearer J. B. Fawcett (1889-1983) (Tseexwaa) was a baseball player and manager for the Hoonah baseball team called the 'Alaskans.' Photo courtesy of the Sealaska Heritage Institute (PO049: Richard Wood Photograph Collection). Sealaska Heritage Institute Tlingit language specialist Linda Belarde contacted Chookaneidi Elder Lily White of Hoonah about the photo. White recalls watching the Alaskans play and said the team was really good. Her father-in-law, Joe White, was a player for the team and would hit home runs. "Baseball was very popular then," White said. "Baseball teams from other communities would play in Hoonah and the Alaskans team would travel to Sitka and Juneau to play games."